The Far Right Is Targeting Gen Z Boys & Men – Here In Ireland Too

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Young men and women’s political views are diverging further and further apart. But how worried should we be?

Donald Trump is officially present in the United States for the second time. Mark Zuckerberg, the CEO of Facebook, has announced the removal of moderators on the platform in order of “free speech”, Reform UK is gaining popularity in Britain, and to top it all off, Andrew Tate (a convicted criminal) has launched his own far-right political party (BRUV).

The rise of extreme right-wing ideologies is soaring amongst younger men and is a seeping stream into the political world, giving figures such as Trump and Nigel Farage a leg to stand on. This is seriously concerning for minorities such as immigrants, women and members of the LGBTQIA+ community.

As the far right gains popularity electorally around the globe, especially in Western countries – Ireland is no exception. We saw this during the pandemic in 2020 and the deadly riots in Dublin in 2023. The attack was fuelled by violence and destruction and the anti-immigrant nature of the riots only made issues in the city worse. The attack was prompted by far-right media accounts.

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Evidence shows that in the US, Gen-Z women are more likely to be liberal, unlike Gen-Z men who are more likely to be conservative. According to the Centre for American Women and Politics (CAWP) this has been the case in every US election since 1980. But why?

Well, in the run-up to the election, Trump spoke on the Joe Rogan podcast and Logan Paul’s ‘Impaulsive’ podcast, both of which contribute to the hyper-masculine ideology that thrives online. These creators have a significantly male-dominated audience reach. Being exposed to such discussions and content is impacting their political beliefs.

This is of course not the only reason. Typically a trend noted in Western countries is citizens being economically being let down by their government and therefore seeking other options. Others are tired of extreme so-called “wokeism”.

Diverging political opinions affect society and personal relationships between Gen Z, with mutual understanding being strained.

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The sociology department at Maynooth University claims that to move forward and counter the far right we need to “have a national strategy which has bottom up, community involvement, placing education and awareness building at its centre”. Such strategies will “tackle those inequalities which leave marginalised communities vulnerable to far-right exploitation, and finely balances the rights of freedom of expression and freedom from threatening behaviours”.

Although it may seem as though we’re in a very dark time, there must always be hope. Speaking to your sons, partners and friends about this dark pipeline can help combat the rise of the far right at a small level. Not engaging with influencers who promote these ideologies, even if they seem small, can help deplatform these people.

Making sure that we make informed decisions whilst voting in each and every election is also paramount. As is making sure that our voices are heard.